Overview

• Elon Musk has directly appealed to President Trump to reconsider aggressive tariff policies, arguing they harm U.S. trade relations and Tesla's business interests.
• President Trump recently threatened a 50% tariff hike on China, adding to earlier tariff increases and escalating trade tensions globally.
• Musk has publicly advocated for a zero-tariff free trade agreement between the U.S. and Europe, highlighting his opposition to Trump's protectionist stance.
• Tesla is experiencing significant backlash, including consumer boycotts, vandalism, and a 38.5% drop in its share price this year, attributed to the political fallout and tariff impacts.
• This dispute underscores a growing rift in the previously close relationship between Musk and Trump, which was marked by political donations and collaboration during earlier campaigns.